Sale reports / Montana / Public Auction Yards / 2023-08-30

Public Auction Yards

Name: Public Auction Yards livestock auction prices — 2023-08-30
Creator: RaisedBeef
Published: 2023-08-30

Feeder Cattle · Slaughter Cattle · Replacement Cattle · Billings, Montana · Wed, Aug 30

● Final87 lots reportedUSDA AMS · slug 1774

← Aug 16Aug 30Sep 13 →

Feeder Cattle receipts

724 head

▲ 114 vs last sale 610▼ 227 vs year ago 951 · −23.9%

Slaughter Cattle receipts

362 head

▲ 32 vs last sale 330▲ 50 vs year ago 312 · +16.0%

Replacement Cattle receipts

17 head

▼ 52 vs last sale 69▼ 34 vs year ago 51 · −66.7%

Also sold hereRegular saleFri Oct 30, 2026

View

Reporter comment USDA

As filed

Compared to last sale(8-16-23): Yearling steers sold generally steady in a narrow comparison. Yearling heifers all sold 3.00-4.00 lower. Demand for feeders was mostly good. Quality this week was mostly average to attractive. Yearlings were offered in small to moderate size packages this week with a number of very small packages and singles on offer as well. Singles and very small packages sold with a discount to cattle which buyers could purchase in partial load quantities. Most cattle were in light flesh and coming off grass. Market activity remains active with bidders rapidly bidding on offerings. Weigh up cows sold on mostly moderate to good demand. Breaking cows were too lightly tested to develop an accurate market trend, however steady to weak undertones were noticed. Boning cows sold mostly 1.00-2.00 lower, Lean cows sold steady to 1.00 lower on a lower yielding offering. Several packages of cows were seen out of country that has been plagued by grasshoppers. Most of these cows were in very light flesh, and yields were poor as a result. Eastern packers opted to send all offerings to slaughter this week. Feeding cows were too lightly tested to trend as most cows were purchased for immediate harvest, however lower undertones were noticed. Cow quality today was mostly plain to average and lower overall compared to last sale. Weigh up conditions were mostly average to below average today. Many thin cows and cows coming out of dry country were pushing heavy amounts of fill come sale time. Slaughter bulls sold mostly 1.00-3.00 lower. Young age cows suitable to feed or rebreed were too lightly tested to develop any market trend. Quality was mostly average this sale.

Weight class — the figures below change to match

Weight classPick one — the panels below update

Heifers · summary 0–100 lb

Weighted average of every reported lot

0–100 lb heifers averaged $223.63/cwt on 367 head.

Average price

$223.63

367 head · 843 lb average

Value per head Derived

$1,886

Price × average weight ÷ 100

Grade differential Derived

−$373

per head · Medium 1 over Large 1

$37.69/cwt at this weight

vs the market

−9.05

vs MT average

Price by quality 0–100 lb

Frame and muscle grade

Frame / muscle	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Medium 1	677	242.18	1,639	66
Medium 1-2	659	236.17	1,557	12thin
Medium and Large 1	875	221.35	1,936	242
Medium and Large 1-2	883	211.90	1,871	10thin
Large 1	984	204.49	2,012	37

One grade step is worth $37.69/cwt here — about −$373 a head. Across this sale the premium is widest at 0–100 lb. USDA reports each grade on its own line and never publishes the spread.

How it compared 0–100 lb

Same class and week · spot auction only

This sale367 hd

223.63

—

MT average3 barns · 816 hd

232.67

−9.05

A barn can sit above the state average at one weight and below it at another — check the class you actually sell.

Slaughter cattle

By class and quality grade · $/cwt

Cull cows and bulls are graded, not weight-classed — grade is what moves the money here.

Class	Grade	Dressing	Avg wt	$/cwt	$/head	Head
Bulls	—	Low	1,750	114.93	2,011	61
Cows	Breaker 75-80%	Low	1,567	108.19	1,696	9thin
Cows	Boner 80-85%	Average	1,452	102.49	1,488	63
Cows	Lean 85-90%	Very Low	1,190	89.93	1,070	187

Every lot

87 lots · USDA AMS · Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Wed)

Nothing removed and nothing rounded — the same lots as the USDA report, with per-head values added. Grouped by class and set lightest first; USDA files them in sale-ring order.

Class	Weight	Grade / description	Avg wt	Price	Range	Per head	Head
Feeder Cattle · Steers23 lots · lightest first
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	305	350.00/cwt	350.00–350.00	1,068	1
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	373	332.50/cwt	332.50–332.50	1,240	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	430	317.50/cwt	317.50–317.50	1,365	1
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	470	297.50/cwt	297.50–297.50	1,398	1
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	500	280.00/cwt	280.00–280.00	1,400	1
Steers	—	Medium 1-2	549	267.00/cwt	267.00–267.00	1,466	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	645	276.00/cwt	276.00–276.00	1,780	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	651	276.00/cwt	276.00–276.00	1,797	7
Steers	—	Medium 1	679	266.00/cwt	266.00–266.00	1,806	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	712	267.00/cwt	267.00–267.00	1,901	11
Steers	—	Medium 1	723	257.00/cwt	257.00–257.00	1,858	2
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	744	257.00/cwt	257.00–257.00	1,912	17
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	771	258.00/cwt	258.00–258.00	1,989	39
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	783	245.45/cwt	242.00–251.00	1,922	13
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	861	235.73/cwt	233.00–238.00	2,030	20
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	876	231.03/cwt	225.00–235.00	2,024	7
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	913	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	2,009	5
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	947	229.50/cwt	229.50–229.50	2,173	17
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1	956	231.00/cwt	231.00–231.00	2,208	4
Steers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	976	230.00/cwt	230.00–230.00	2,245	5
Steers	—	Large 1	1,032	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	2,219	3
Steers	—	Large 1Full	1,048	205.00/cwt	205.00–205.00	2,148	8
Steers	—	Large 1	1,053	212.33/cwt	210.00–214.00	2,236	12
Feeder Cattle · Heifers28 lots · lightest first
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	340	305.00/cwt	305.00–305.00	1,037	1
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	425	277.00/cwt	277.00–277.00	1,177	1
Heifers	—	Medium 1	511	285.00/cwt	285.00–285.00	1,456	4
Heifers	—	Medium 1	597	252.02/cwt	247.50–255.00	1,505	10
Heifers	—	Medium 1	618	251.00/cwt	251.00–251.00	1,551	18
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	623	242.50/cwt	242.50–242.50	1,511	8
Heifers	—	Medium 1	662	243.00/cwt	243.00–243.00	1,609	12
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	675	232.00/cwt	232.00–232.00	1,566	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	710	237.50/cwt	235.00–240.00	1,686	4
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	778	222.50/cwt	222.50–222.50	1,731	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	782	231.00/cwt	231.00–231.00	1,806	16
Heifers	—	Medium 1-2	788	215.00/cwt	215.00–215.00	1,694	2
Heifers	—	Medium 1	791	225.92/cwt	225.00–227.00	1,787	13
Heifers	—	Medium 1	811	217.00/cwt	217.00–217.00	1,760	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	832	225.02/cwt	223.00–231.50	1,872	54
Heifers	—	Large 1	835	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	1,837	10
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	860	212.00/cwt	212.00–212.00	1,823	2
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	865	225.68/cwt	219.00–227.50	1,952	72
Heifers	—	Large 1	866	218.50/cwt	218.50–218.50	1,892	5
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1Full	874	214.00/cwt	214.00–214.00	1,870	9
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	917	215.19/cwt	209.50–222.00	1,973	27
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	945	210.50/cwt	210.50–210.50	1,989	3
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1	961	210.40/cwt	202.50–213.00	2,022	58
Heifers	—	Medium and Large 1-2	970	198.00/cwt	198.00–198.00	1,921	2
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,008	202.75/cwt	202.00–203.00	2,044	4
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,078	193.39/cwt	186.50–199.00	2,085	11
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,100	193.50/cwt	193.50–193.50	2,129	5
Heifers	—	Large 1	1,163	184.00/cwt	184.00–184.00	2,140	2
Feeder Cattle · Bulls8 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	390	320.00/cwt	320.00–320.00	1,248	1
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1Unweaned	408	317.50/cwt	317.50–317.50	1,295	5
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1-2Unweaned	468	260.00/cwt	260.00–260.00	1,217	3
Bulls	—	Medium and Large 1	925	220.00/cwt	220.00–220.00	2,035	2
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,012	189.00/cwt	189.00–189.00	1,913	3
Bulls	—	Large 1Full	1,138	161.00/cwt	161.00–161.00	1,832	9
Bulls	—	Large 1	1,178	162.00/cwt	162.00–162.00	1,908	2
Bulls	—	Large 1Fancy	1,225	183.00/cwt	183.00–183.00	2,242	1
Slaughter Cattle · Bulls6 lots · lightest first
Bulls	—	—	1,532	104.76/cwt	100.00–109.00	1,605	5
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,573	107.00/cwt	102.00–114.00	1,683	14
Bulls	—	—Return to Feed	1,647	117.55/cwt	114.00–121.00	1,936	15
Bulls	—	—	1,893	117.42/cwt	114.00–121.00	2,223	20
Bulls	—	—	2,037	127.76/cwt	124.00–135.00	2,602	6
Bulls	—	—	2,255	111.00/cwt	111.00–111.00	2,503	1
Slaughter Cattle · Cows19 lots · lightest first
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Light Weight	840	79.00/cwt	79.00–79.00	664	1
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,046	110.74/cwt	110.00–111.00	1,158	8
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,078	82.00/cwt	82.00–82.00	884	3
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,143	68.91/cwt	64.00–78.00	788	41
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,156	58.00/cwt	58.00–58.00	670	8
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%Return to Feed	1,209	106.00/cwt	105.00–107.00	1,282	12
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,213	91.22/cwt	80.00–96.00	1,106	54
Cows	—	Lean 85-90%	1,233	101.97/cwt	97.00–107.00	1,257	60
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,399	105.90/cwt	103.00–111.00	1,482	26
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,410	114.00/cwt	114.00–114.00	1,607	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,435	98.00/cwt	98.00–98.00	1,406	3
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,457	96.89/cwt	94.00–100.00	1,412	3
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,465	115.00/cwt	115.00–115.00	1,685	1
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,466	113.24/cwt	112.00–115.00	1,660	4
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%Return to Feed	1,473	106.00/cwt	102.00–111.00	1,561	18
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,537	106.45/cwt	105.00–108.50	1,636	5
Cows	—	Boner 80-85%	1,582	80.50/cwt	80.50–80.50	1,274	8
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%Return to Feed	1,630	109.00/cwt	109.00–109.00	1,777	2
Cows	—	Breaker 75-80%	1,695	108.50/cwt	108.50–108.50	1,839	1
Replacement Cattle · Stock Cows3 lots · lightest first
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1-2	970	107.00/cwt	107.00–107.00	1,038	3
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,184	119.56/cwt	118.00–122.00	1,416	6
Stock Cows	—	Medium and Large 1	1,276	132.46/cwt	125.00–157.00	1,690	4

This sale against other markets

Montana weighted averages

One sale is one barn on one day. The state ladder is every Montana auction USDA reported that week, weighted by head — the fairer test of whether a lot sold well.

Montana feeder prices, every weight →Every state and region →

Public Auction Yards Livestock Cattle Auction - Billings, MT (Wed)

Wed Aug 30, 2023

USDA Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News · Federal-State Market News Service, Billings, MT (LS-BL)

Feeder CattleReceipts 724Last week 610Year ago 951

Slaughter CattleReceipts 362Last week 330Year ago 312

Replacement CattleReceipts 17Last week 69Year ago 51

Slaughter Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90%$ per cwt · actual wt
41	—	1,143	64.00–78.00	68.91
54	—	1,213	80.00–96.00	91.22
60	—	1,233	97.00–107.00	101.97

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80%$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	1,537	105.00–108.50	106.45
1	—	1,695	108.50	108.50
1	—	1,465	115.00	115.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85%$ per cwt · actual wt
26	—	1,399	103.00–111.00	105.90
4	—	1,466	112.00–115.00	113.24
8	—	1,582	80.50	80.50
3	—	1,457	94.00–100.00	96.89

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	1,209	105.00–107.00	106.00
3	—	1,078	82.00	82.00
8	—	1,156	58.00	58.00
8	—	1,046	110.00–111.00	110.74

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Breaker 75-80% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,630	109.00	109.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Boner 80-85% · Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,410	114.00	114.00
3	—	1,435	98.00	98.00
18	—	1,473	102.00–111.00	106.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Cows — Lean 85-90% · Light Weight$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	840	79.00	79.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Return to Feed$ per cwt · actual wt
14	—	1,573	102.00–114.00	107.00
15	—	1,647	114.00–121.00	117.55

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls$ per cwt · actual wt
6	—	2,037	124.00–135.00	127.76
1	—	2,255	111.00	111.00
5	—	1,532	100.00–109.00	104.76
20	—	1,893	114.00–121.00	117.42

Feeder Cattle

As reported

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1 · Fancy$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	1,225	183.00	183.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	1,138	161.00	161.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	408	317.50	317.50
1	—	390	320.00	320.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,178	162.00	162.00
3	—	1,012	189.00	189.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	925	220.00	220.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Bulls — Medium and Large 1-2 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	468	260.00	260.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
7	—	876	225.00–235.00	231.03
5	—	976	230.00	230.00
13	—	783	242.00–251.00	245.45
17	—	744	257.00	257.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
39	—	771	258.00	258.00
11	—	712	267.00	267.00
17	—	947	229.50	229.50
5	—	645	276.00	276.00
7	—	651	276.00	276.00
4	—	956	231.00	231.00
20	—	861	233.00–238.00	235.73

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	470	297.50	297.50
1	—	500	280.00	280.00
2	—	373	332.50	332.50
1	—	305	350.00	350.00
1	—	430	317.50	317.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	723	257.00	257.00
4	—	679	266.00	266.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	549	267.00	267.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	1,048	205.00	205.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
5	—	913	220.00	220.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Steers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	1,032	215.00	215.00
12	—	1,053	210.00–214.00	212.33

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
58	—	961	202.50–213.00	210.40
16	—	782	231.00	231.00
27	—	917	209.50–222.00	215.19
4	—	710	235.00–240.00	237.50
72	—	865	219.00–227.50	225.68
54	—	832	223.00–231.50	225.02

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
2	—	1,163	184.00	184.00
5	—	866	218.50	218.50
10	—	835	220.00	220.00
11	—	1,078	186.50–199.00	193.39
4	—	1,008	202.00–203.00	202.75
5	—	1,100	193.50	193.50

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Unweaned$ per cwt · actual wt
1	—	425	277.00	277.00
1	—	340	305.00	305.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1$ per cwt · actual wt
12	—	662	243.00	243.00
10	—	597	247.50–255.00	252.02
4	—	511	285.00	285.00
18	—	618	251.00	251.00
13	—	791	225.00–227.00	225.92
9	—	811	217.00	217.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
8	—	623	242.50	242.50
2	—	675	232.00	232.00
2	—	788	215.00	215.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
3	—	778	222.50	222.50
2	—	860	212.00	212.00
3	—	945	210.50	210.50
2	—	970	198.00	198.00

Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Heifers — Medium and Large 1 · Full$ per cwt · actual wt
9	—	874	214.00	214.00

Replacement Cattle

As reported

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1$ per cwt · actual wt
(<2 yrs)	Open	4	—	1,276	125.00–157.00	132.46
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	6	—	1,184	118.00–122.00	119.56

Age	Stage	Head	Wt range	Avg wt	Price range	Avg price
Stock Cows — Medium and Large 1-2$ per cwt · actual wt
Young (2-4 yrs)	Open	3	—	970	107.00	107.00

Head, weight ranges, average weights and price ranges are exactly as USDA AMS filed them — nothing recomputed, nothing rounded — in USDA's own reporting structure. This is RaisedBeef's rendering of that data, not a copy of USDA's document.